Ben Platt Will Segue from ‘Mormon’ Elder To ‘Ricki And The Flash’ Barkeep

EXCLUSIVE: Looks like the Ivy League will have to wait a bit longer for rising star Ben Platt. The actor, best known as Pitch Perfect‘s Benji Applebaum, put off entering Columbia University to take over as Elder Cunningham in The Book Of Mormon, first in Chicago and currently on Broadway, in the role originated by Josh Gad. Platt just wrapped Pitch Perfect 2 and has signed on forRicki And The Flash, the Jonathan Demme project starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Rick Springfield. Platt is cast as Daniel, the bartender at Ricki and the Flash’s regular spot, who worships Streep’s Ricki. Platt’s repped by William Morris Endeavor, One Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.